Tilt back chair



Oct. 18, 1960 G. J. scHERER 2,956,619

TILT BACK CHAIR Filed Oct. 3. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 63 P-arJAl". T5;

IN V EN TOR. George JI Scheren ct 18, 1960 G J. scHERER 2,956,619

TILT BACK CHAIR Filed Oct. .3, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. GeorgeJ Schere/2 Oct. 18, 1960 G. J. scHERr-:R 2,956,619

TILT BACK CHAIR Filed Oct. 3, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 IN VEN TOR. GeorgeJ. Scherer.

5mi/M C- 18, 1960 G. J. scm-:RER 2,956,619

TILT BACK CHAIR Filed Oct. 3, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 rates TILT BACKCHAIR Filed Oct. '3, 1958, Ser. N0. 765,212

9 IClaims. (Cl. 155-457) This invention relates to tilting-back chairs,and more particularly to improvements in posture chairs of the swiveltype, having a tilting back and a seat which moves backwardly and tiltsupwardly at the forward end during the tilting movement.

Various chairs of swivel type have adjustable features and chairs withthe seat and back tilting as a unit have been devised, but applicantbelieves the present invention employs a mechanism whereby the forwardportion of the seat will move upwardly in addition to the seat tiltingbackwardly along with the back of the chair, the present invention beingan improvement over Patent No. 2,845,992 of August 5, 1958.

The principal object of the present invention is, therefore, to providea chair of this character having a tilting back and seat, and the seatmoving upwardly at the forward end against spring tension while thetilting movement is accomplished.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a spider for themounting of the seat of the chair on the pedestal supported on a basehaving roller casters; to provide means for pivotally mounting a seat onthe spider at one end of the spider and for mounting of the seat at theforward end of the spider so that the seat will move upwardly away fromsaid spider when pressure is applied to the back of the chair; toprovide means for tiltably mounting the back of the chair to the spiderseparately from said seat; to provide a seat structure made from aone-piece molded material having an annular groove around the peripherythereof for securing the cushion portion of the seat thereto; to providethe seat with depending spaced ribs, for engaging the mounting means ofthe tilting back mechanism, and to provide a device of this charactersimple and economical to manufacture.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my chair, particularly illustrating the tensionmeans in mounting of the seat on the spider.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the chair taken on a line 2 2,Fig. 3, particularly illustrating the mounting of the seat, the seatbeing in a tilted position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on a line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on a line 4 4, Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view on a line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the spider.

Fig 7 is a perspective view of the tilting back mounting member. Y Fig.A8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of mounting of the seat.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a chair embodying the features of my Patented Oct. 18, 1960invention comprising a base 2 mounted upon casters 3. The base has anupstanding boss or sleeve 4, for mounting a post or standard 5, thestandard 5 being adjustable with respect to sleeve 4 by a levermechanism 6; said standard 5 is provided with spaced sockets 7 (Fig. 2)for receiving the end of a lever rod for adjustably locking the standardat spaced points to adjust the height of the chair as is the usualpractice, and as illustrated in Patent No. 2,845,992.

9 designates a spider for mounting of a seat 1t) on the post 5, andincludes a depending boss or sleeve 11 forming a longitudinal socket 12for engaging over the top of the standard 5. The standard 5 is providednear its top with an annular groove 13 and the sleeve 11 has a lateralthreaded opening for receiving a set screw or the like 14 having its endengaging in the annular groove 13 for retaining the spider rotatablymounted on the standard 5.

The boss 11 of the spider 9 has upwardly extending spaced walls 15 and16 having rearwardly and upwardly extending arms 17 and 18 and forwardlyand upwardly extending arms 19 and 20. The arms 17 and 18 have upwardlyextending ears 21 and 22 provided with transverse openings 23 and 24.The forwardly extending arms 19 and 20 have outwardly extending heads 25and 26 provided with vertically extending openings 27 and 28.

The seat 10 consists of a substantially flat base member 29 having adepending portion 30 and a parallel extending ange 31 forming a groove32 around the periphery of the seat for receiving a resilient bumpermember 33. A cushion 34 is provided for the seat and has a covering 35which extends over the seat and is held in the annular groove 32 by awire 36 and springs (not shown) secured to the bottom of the seat as isthe usual practice.

The seat 10 is provided on the underneath side near the rear thereofwith L-shaped brackets 37 and 38, secured to the seat by rivets or thelike 39, the depending portions of the brackets being provided withopenings 4@ and 41 for alignment with the openings 23 and 24 in the ears21 and 22 of the arms 17 and 18 of the spider. The seat is pivotallymounted on the spider by bolts or the like 42 and 43 and held thereon bynuts 44 and 45. The underside of the forward portion of the seat isprovided with depending bosses 46 and 47 having vertical openings 48 and49 for receiving the threaded ends of bolts 50 and 51 extending throughthe openings 27 and 28 in the arms 19 and 20 of the spider 9. Coilsprings 52 and 53 are provided on the bolts 5t) and 51 between the heads54 and 55 of the bolts and the heads 25 and 26 of the arms 19 and 20.The bolts are secured to the seat by nuts 56 and 57.

The longitudinally extending walls 15 and 16 at substantially theircenters and slightly forwardly of the post 5 are provided with enlargedportions or bosses 58 and 59 having transverse openings 60 and 61.Adapted to engage between the walls 15 and 16 `and underneath the seat10 is a channel member 62 for securing the back 63 to the spider of theframework of the chair. The channel member 62 has sides 64 and 64 andelongated plane surface 65. The sides 64 and 64 of the channel memberhave forwardly extending brackets 66 and 67 provided with transverseopenings 68 and' 69. The side members 64 and 64' also have transverseopenings 70 and 71 slightly at a lower elevation than the openings 68and 69 for securing the channel member to the spider 9. A pin 72 isprovided for engaging through the openings 69 and 61 in the bosses 58and `59 of the spider arms and through the openings 70 and 71 of thechannel member to pivotally mount the channel member on the spider. Acotter key 73 extends through an opening 74 in the pin 72 and an opening75 in the bottom 76 of the channel member 62 to force the pin 72 t-orotate in the openings 60 and 61 of the bosses 58 and 59 as the channelmember swings up and down. The underneath side of the seat isprovidedwith longitudinally spaced ribs 77 and 78 for engaging on asleeve roller 79 and a pin 80 engaging in the openings 68 and 69 oftheforwardly extending brackets 66 and 67 on the channel member 62. The pin80 is held in placef by cotter keys asl indicated at 81. It will beobvious the ribs 77 and 78 will contact the roller sleeve 79 on the pinat all times tof stabilize the spider structure and allow the forwardportionl of the seat to exert tension on the springs 52 and 5I)v on thebolts 50 and 51 previously referred to.

The channel member 62 at. the forward end thereof has a dependinghousing or spring seat 82 and has a back wall 83 providedr with anopening 84. In order to apply a spring tension upon the back 63 a rod 85extends through the opening 84 in the housing 82 and has an eye 86 onthe end thereof which engages between depending anges 87 and 88 on theforward body portion 89 of the spider. Transverse openings 90 and 91 areprovided in the flanges for receiving a pin 92 for retainingV the eye ofthe rod 85 therebetween. A coil spring 93 surrounds the bolt or rod 85`and the rod is threaded as indicated at 94 and has a nut 95 on itsouter end. One end of the coil spring 93 engages in the housing 82 andthe other end in a retainer member 96 slidably engaged over the rod 85.A hand wheel 97 is threaded on the rod :and is spaced from the member 96by a washer 98` whereby rotation of the hand wheel will adjust thetension on the coil spring 93. Adjusting tilt stop nuts 99 and 100 areprovided on the threaded rod 85 and mounted between the nut 99 and theback wall 83 of the housing 82 is a bumper spring 101 for adjusting thetilt of the chair as disclosed in Patent No. 2,845,992. Mounted betweenthe housing 82` and the depending anges 87 and 88, on rod 85, areresilient washers 102.

The back 63 consists of vertical members 103 secured to the U-shaped end104 of an arm 105 the horizontal portion 106 thereof slidably engagingbetween the plane portion 65 and the bottom 76 or the channel member 62.The bottom side 76 of the channel member 62 is provided with a threadedboss 107 adapted to receive the threaded shank 108 of Ia hand wheel 109for rotation of the shank so that the inner end of the shank may contactthe horizontal portion 106 of the arm 105 to adjust the back memberforwardly and rearwardly of the chair seat as desired. The back 63 isprovided at the upper end with a back rest 110 and the back 63 isvertically adjustable on the end 104 by a nut and bolt as indicated at111 (Fig. 1).

With the chair constructed and assembled as described the height of thechair seat may be adjusted by operation of the lever 6. The tiltingtension is adjusted by the hand Wheel 97 on the rod 85 to exert tensionon the coil spring 93. In use of the chair when the occu pant leansagainst the back 110, the seat and back of the chair will tiltbackwardly by movement of the horizontal portion 106 of the back memberdownwardly with the channel member 62. and the sleeve roller 79 on thepin 80 will apply pressure to the ribs 77 and 78 on the bottom of thechair seat tilting the seat 10 so that the rear portion will movedownwardly independently of movement of the spider. Pressure on the backrest 110 will cause the front portion of the seat to exert a pressure onthe coil springs 52 and 53 of the bolts 50- and 51 and cause the forwardportion of the seat t'o be raised upwardly and when in this position theheadsv 25 and 26 of the spider are disengaged from the bosses 46 and 47of the seat as best illustrated in Fig. 2, so that in operation of thechair the forwardv portion of the seat will follow the body of the userand particularly the portion of the legs which rests on the forward edgeof the seat and the cushion thereon to retain the cushion of the seat incontact with the body at all times. It will be obvious that the back andseat tilt at a different degree or angle during the tilting operation;in other words the back rest will tilt a greater degree than the seat.The movement of the channel member 62 due to downward movement of thehorizontal portion 106 of the back member will cause forward movement ofthe housing 82. to exert a tension on the spring 93 of the rod 85 toprovide resistance of the pressure on the back, Further tilting willalso compress the spring 101 between wall 83 and nuts 99 and until saidspring is completely compressed and thus provide a nal stop of thetilting movement. The washers 102 will provide resiliency between theback 83 of the housing and the ilanges 87 and 88 of the body of thespider.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a modied form of the tilt unit wherein thebolts 50 and 511, and the springs 52 and 53 are eliminated by providinga depending bracket 112 between the ribs 77 and 78 having its endswelded or otherwise suitably secured to the underneath side of the seatas indicated at 113 and 114 forming a trackway 115 on the inner portionof the bracket for keeping the sleeve roller 79 in constant engagementwith the ribs 77 and 78. In operation of this modified formV of theinvention, the tension on the back member 63 will cause the channelmember to rotate on the pin 72 the same as in the preferred form and theforward end of the channel member moving upwardly will cause the rollerto roll in the trackway 115 along the ribs 77 land 78 to allow theforward portion of the seat to move upwardly when the pressure isapplied on the back member. v

It ywill be obvious from the foregoing that l have provided an improvedchair structure wherein the backmember may move at a greater degree thanthe seat will tilt and by movement of the back member, the forwardportion of the seat member will raise so that the seat member willcontact the body at all times during the movement of the seat at acomfortable angle with respect to the back rest.

While I have illustrated the forms of the invention which are found tobe suitable for my purpose, other forms may be utilized -withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as I do not wish to be limitedto the exact details of the form shown.

What I claim and desire lto secure by Letters Patent 1. In a chairhaving -a standard mountedk on a base, a seat and back member thecombination of, a spider rotatably mounted on said standard, said spiderhaving spaced bars having rearwardly extending arms and forwardlyextending brackets, means pivotally mounting the rear portion of saidseat on said rearwardly extending arms, a channel member pivotallymounted on` said spider, said back member having a horizontal portionsecured in said channel member, said channel member having -a housingbelow said horizontal portion of said back member, means` including acoil spring engaging. said housing of said channel member said channel'-mem:- said housing of said channel member and said lastnamed meansengaging said spider for exerting tension on said back member, meansresiliently attaching the forward portion of said seat to the forwardlyextending brackets on said spider, and means on the forward portion ofthe channel member engaging said seat whereby pressure on the backmember will cause the channel member to pivot on the spider to lower therear portionof the seat and continued pressure on the back member willcause the forward portionA of the seat to raise independently of thespider.

2. In a chair having a standard mountedv ona: base, a seat and backmember the combinationl of, a spider rotatably `mounted on saidstandard, said .spider having spaced bars having rearwardly extendingarms having upwardly extending ears and forwardly extending brackets,means pivotally mounting the rear portion of said seat on said ears, achannelmember pivotally mounted on said spider, said back member havinga horizontal portion adjustably secured in said channel member, saidchannel member having a housing below the horizontal portion of the backmember, means including a coil spring engaging the housing of saidchannel member `and said spider for exerting tension on said backmember, means resiliently attaching the forward portion of said seat tothe forwardly extending brackets on said spider, and means on theforward portion of the channel member engaging said seat wherebypressure on the back member will cause the channel member to pivot onthe spider to lower the rear portion of the seat and continued pressureon the back member will c-ause the forward portion of the seat to raiseindependently of the spider.

3. In combination with a chair having a standard -mounted on a base, aseat and back member, a spider rotatably mounted on said standard, saidspider having spaced bars having rearwardly extending `arms and forwardly extending brackets, means pivotally mounting the rear portion ofsaid seat on said rearwardly extending rarms, a channel member pivotallymounted on said spider, said back member having a horizontal portionadjustably secured in said channel member, spring means engaging saidchannel member and said spider for exerting tension on said back member,means resiliently attaching the forward portion of said seat to theforwardly extending brackets on said spider, said seat having dependingribs on the underneath side, and roller means on the forward portion ofthe channel member engaging said ribs of said seat whereby pressure onthe back member will cause the channel member to pivot on the spider tolower the rear portion of the seat and continued pressure on the backmember will cause the forward portion of the seat to raise independentlyof ythe spider.

4. In combination with a chair having a standard mounted on a base, aseat and back member, a spider rotatably mounted on said standard, saidspider having spaced bars having rearwardly extending arms and forwardlyextending brackets provided with heads having openings therein, saidseat having openings aligning with the openings in said heads, meanspivotally mounting the rear portion of said seat on said rearwardlyextending arms, a channel member pivotally mounted on said spider, saidback member having a horizontal portion adjustably secured in saidchannel member, spring means engaging said channel member and saidspider for exerting tension on said back member, bolts extending throughthe openings in said heads and said seat, the bolts extending below theheads, coil springs on said bolts for resiliently attaching the forwardportion of said seat to the forwardly extending brackets on said spider,said seat having longitudinally extending ribs on the underneath side,and roller means on the forward portion of the channel member engagingsaid seat whereby pressure on the back member will cause the channelmember to pivot on the spider to lower the rear portion of the seat andcontinued pressure on the back member will cause the forward portion ofthe seat to raise independently of movement of the spider.

5. In a chair having a standard mounted on a base, a seat and backmember the combination of, a spider rotatably mounted on said standard,said spider having spaced bars having rearwardly extending arms andforwardly extending brackets, means pivotally mounting the rear portionof said seat on said rearwardly extending arms, a channel memberpivotally mounted on said spider, said back member having a horizontalportion adjustably secured in said channel member, spring means engagingsaid channel member and said spider for exerting tension on said backmember, a depending bracket on the forward underneath portion of saidseat forming a trackway, and

roller means on the forward portion of the channel member engaging saidtrackway whereby pressure on the back member will cause the channelmember to pivot on the spider to lower the rear portion of the seat andcontinued pressure on the back member will cause the forward portion ofthe seat to raise independently of the spider.

6. In a chair having a standard mounted on a base, a seat and backmember the combination of, a spider rotatably mounted on said standard,said spider having spaced bars having rearwardly extending arms andforwardly extending brackets, means pivotally mounting the rear portionof said seat on said rearwardly extending arms, a channel memberpivotally mounted on said spider, said back member having a horizontalportion adjustably secured in said channel member, spring means engagingsaid channel member and said spider for exerting tension on said lbackmember, a depending bracket on the forward underneath portion of saidseat forming a trackway, and roller means on the forward portion of thechannel member engaging said trackway and said seat whereby pressure onthe back member will cause the channel member to pivot on the spider tolower the rear portion of the seat and continued pressure on the backmember will cause the forward portion of the seat to raise independentlyof the spider and the roller to move forwardly on the trackway.

7. In combination with a chair having a standard mounted on a base, aseat and back member, a spider rotatably Vmounted on said standard, saidspider having spaced bars having rearwardly extending arms and forwardly extending brackets provided with heads having openings therein,said seat having openings aligning with the openings in said heads,means pivotally mounting the rear portion of said seat on saidrearwardly extending arms, a channel member pivotally mounted on saidspider, said back member having a horizontal portion adjustably securedin said channel member, spring means engaging said channel member andsaid spider for exerting tension on said back member, bolts extendingthrough the openings in said heads and said seat, the bolts extendingbelow the heads, coil springs on said bolts for resiliently attach ingthe forward portion of said seat to the forwardly extending brackets onsaid spider, said seat having longitudinally extending ribs on theunderneath side, a depending bracket on the forward underneath portionof the seat forming a trackway spaced from said ribs, and roller meanson the forward portion of the channel member engaging said ribs on theseat and said trackway whereby pressure on the back member will causethe channel member to pivot on the spider to lower the rear portion ofthe seat and continued pressure on the back member will cause theforward portion of the seat to raise independently of movement of thespider.

8. In combination with a chair having a standard mounted on a base, aseat and back member, a one-piece spider rotatably mounted on saidstandard, said spider having spaced bars and each bar having rearwardlyand upwardly extending arms and forwardly extending brackets, meanspivotally mounting the rear portion of said seat on said rearwardlyextending arms, a member having a channel longitudinally of the seat andpivotally mounted on said spider, said back member having a horizontalportion being slidable in said channel for movement longitudinallythereof and adjustably secured thereon, spring means engaging saidchannel member and said spider for exerting tension on said back member,means resiliently attaching the forward portion of said seat to theforwardly extending bracket on said spider, said seat member havingportions on the underneath side and extending longitudinally thereof,and roller means on the forward portion of the channel member engagingsaid portions on the underneath side of said seat whereby pressure onthe back member will cause the channel member to pivot on the spider tolower the rear portion of the seat and continued pressure on the backmember will cause the forward portion of the seat to raise independentlyof the spider.

9. In combination with a chair having a standard: mounted on a base, aseat and back member, a Spider-` rotatablyf mounted onsaid standard,said. spider having spaced bars having` rearwardly extending arms andforwardlytextending brackets, means,V mounting the rear portion of saidseat. on said' rearwardly extending arms, a channel member pivotallymounted on. said spider,

said back member havingA a horizontal portion adjustably 10;

secured in said channel member, spring means engaging said channelmember, means resiliently attaching the forward` portion of said seat tothe forwardly extending` brackets on said spider, said seat havingdepending ribs on the underneath side, and roller means on the. forward15 2,729,273

portion of the Channel member engaging said ribs ofl said seat. wherebypressure on the back member will cause the channel member to pivot onthespider to-lower the rear portion of the seat and continued pressureon the back member will cause the forward portion of the seat'. to.vraise. independently of the spider.

i References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,441,251` Raitch May 1l, 1948 2,609,032 Cramer Sept. 2, 1952 2,662,586Cramer Dec. 15, 1953 Hamilton et al. Jan. 3, 1956

